Remembering Austin Davis Fisher: A Life Lost Too Soon
West Lafayette, IN – The Purdue University community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of one of its students, Austin Davis Fisher, who tragically took his own life at a Northwestern Memorial Hospital parking garage earlier this month. The news has sent ripples of grief through both the Purdue campus and the surrounding communities, raising urgent conversations about mental health, academic pressure, and the unseen battles many students face.
Austin Davis Fisher was a bright and ambitious student at Purdue University, known among peers for his warm personality, intellectual curiosity, and a quiet strength that many admired. Originally from Indiana, Austin came to Purdue with big dreams, eager to explore new opportunities, make lifelong friends, and prepare for a future full of promise.
On what seemed like an ordinary day, everything changed. Authorities confirmed that Austin died by suicide at a parking garage near Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Details surrounding what led him there remain private out of respect for his family, but the impact of his passing is being deeply felt by those who knew him—and even by those who did not.
As the news of his death circulated, an outpouring of condolences came from students, faculty, and mental health advocates across the country. Purdue University issued a statement expressing their deepest sympathies and emphasizing their commitment to supporting students’ mental well-being.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Austin Davis Fisher,” the statement read. “He was a valued member of our Purdue family, and his passing is a tragic reminder of how important it is that we take care of one another and ourselves.”
Friends remember Austin as someone who was always there to lend a hand, offer a listening ear, or share a laugh. “He made my hardest days on campus feel a little lighter,” one fellow student wrote in a tribute. “You never really know what someone is going through.”
This tragedy has reignited the call for more accessible mental health resources on college campuses. Students are speaking out about the overwhelming stress that comes with higher education and the importance of creating a culture where it’s okay to ask for help. Mental health professionals are urging students to look out for one another and to speak up if they or someone they know is struggling.
In the wake of Austin’s passing, candlelight vigils have been held both at Purdue and in his hometown. His memory is being honored not only by those who knew him personally, but also by individuals determined to advocate for better mental health support and suicide prevention initiatives.
Organizations like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) and campus counseling centers continue to offer vital support to those in need. If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t wait—reach out. There is always help, and there is always hope.